Objective:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects 1-5% of the world population, around 1% of our country. The risk of chronic infection after an acute episode of hepatitis C is near 80%. Generally its course is primarily insidious but eventually it can cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, because of that it can be a serious health problem. Standart therapy for patients chronically infected with HCV is combination pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin. In patients with HCV genotype 1 infection have shown that addition of protease inhibitors to the standard of care, markedly increased the rate of sustained virological response. We aimed to evaluation of chronic hepatitis C patients follow-up outcomes who admitted to our clinic.

Materials and Methods:

We enrolled the patients that who diagnosed (previously or new) with HCV, were registered, were initiated treatment (previously or new), were with adequate information in their files who admitted to Harran University Gastroenterology Clinic. We evaluated that clinical, laboratory, treatment, follow-up and prognostic features of the patients retrospectively.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 54.6±11 years and 26 of 46 patients (56.5%) were female. The distribution of genotypes of the patients whose looked to genotypes were 85.2% genotype 1, 11.1% genotype 2 and 3.7% genotype 4. Seventeen (37%) of the patients had cirrhosis. Thirty-two (70%) of the patients received or are receiving pegylated interferon alpha/ribavirin treatment. There are 12 patients who taken complete therapy. Five (41.6%) of the patients have achieved sustained virological response, 5 (41.6%) of the patients were relapser and 2 (17%) of the patients were evaluated as breakthrough. Telaprevir, pegylated interferon, ribavirin triple treatment was initiated to 2 relapser and 1 patient of evaluated as breaktrough. Fourth week HCV-RNA were negative all of 3 patients who initiated triple therapy. Three (6.5%) of the patients were with HCC. Two (4%) of 46 patients died at follow-up.

Conclusion:

As a result, 80% genotype 1, 37% cirrhotic, sustained virological response rate 40% of the patients who we evaluated. Triple treatment was initiated to 3 patients and achieved rapid virological response. HCC was detected at 3 patients and 2 patients died. Chronic HCV is a mortal and morbid disease.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Sanliurfa region